§ Angela WatkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria are used in defining a local authority area as high cost for teacher recruitment purposes; and for what reasons Havering does not qualify as a high cost area. [104375]
§ Mr. MilibandThe area cost adjustment in Education Formula Spending is based on average wage costs in an area rather than on the direct costs of teachers. Havering is grouped with other boroughs to the east of Inner London where average wage costs are lower than they are in Inner London itself or to the west of Inner London. The amount of area cost adjustment received by Havering and other east London boroughs is substantially more than the cost of London Weighting payments to teachers and other staff.